Second Chance at Life - Making a Difference

Second Chance at Life is determined to provide financial assistance to transplant patients who are waiting for, receiving, or recovering from a transplant. We aim to fill a need for these services in Michigan. All funds go to support Michigan residents who are transplant candidates, recipients, or living donors.

In the Year 2012, Second Chance at Life, Inc. issued (5) grants given to the following hospital's "Emergency Funds" to further assist their transplant patients with food, lodging, gas, etc.:

University of Michigan Transplant Center, Henry Ford Transplant Institute, St. John Transplant Center and Beaumont Transplant Center. Second Chance at Life is now also involved with helping our fifth hospital, Spectrum's Trauma Department in Grand Rapids, to assist donor families with food, lodging, gas, etc. totaling $24,000. Second Chance at Life, Inc. is making a difference, for both transplant patients and donor families.

The Transplant Games of America happen every two years and provide an opportunity for transplant recipients, living donors, and donor families to come together from across the country. There are over 15 competitive events and a host of family-friendly events. Teams are organized by state, allowing participants to connect with people with similar backgrounds both locally and nationwide.

Second Chance at Life is proud to support Team Michigan on their road to the games. We’ve sponsored the team as a whole, and also provided grants for individuals to attend who cannot afford the travel expenses.

The 2014 games are in Houston, Texas and 2016 will bring the games closer to home in Cleveland! To learn more about Team Michigan, click here: http://www.teammichigan.org/.

In Michigan, people living with blinding eye conditions sometimes face challenges in receiving the care they need because they lack adequate health insurance. In an effort to help these individuals, the Michigan Eye-Bank created the Gift of Sight program to reduce the costs associated with sight restoring cornea transplant procedures. Second Chance at Life graciously donates $1,000.00 per year to this program. Since 1992, this charitable support program has allowed us to waive our normal service fees, typically covered by insurance, for 1,600 patients who could not otherwise afford the medical procedures associated with corneal transplantation. The Michigan Eye-Bank has never denied services to anyone in need of a cornea transplant because of inadequate health insurance.

Second Chance at Life, along side Collette Taylor (Donor Mom) of Grand Haven, presented a $6,500 check to Spectrum Health System to be used towards Recipient and Donor Families for food, lodging, gas and much more. Second Chance at Life, Inc. has currently given $23,500 to Spectrum Health System since 2009.

In 2013, Jennifer Fogarty, Board Member of Second Chance at Life, Inc. presented a $4,000 check to the Beaumont Transplant Center Emergency Fund to assist transplant patients with food, lodging, overnight stays, utilities bills and much more. Second Chance at Life, Inc. has currently given $26,200 to the Beaumont Transplant Center Emergency Fund and patients since 2009.

In 2013, Second Chance at Life, Inc. approved $7,000 to Henry Ford Transplant Institute for their Transplant Emergency Fund to assist transplant patients with food, lodging, overnight stays, utilities bills and much more. Second Chance at Life, Inc. has currently given $47,300 to the Henry Ford Transplant Institute for their Emergency Fund and patients since 2009.

In 2013, Allen Goll, Board Member of Second Chance at Life, Inc. presented a $2,500 check to St. John Hospital's Transplant Emergency Fund to assist transplant patients with food, lodging, overnight stays, utilities bills and much more. Second Chance at Life, Inc. has currently given $21,800 to St. John Hospital's Transplant Emergency Fund and patients since 2009.

In 2013, Second Chance at Life, Inc. issued a $4,500 check to the University of Michigan Transplant Center for their Emergency Fund to assist transplant patients with food, lodging, overnight stays, utility bills and much more. Second Chance at Life, Inc. has currently given $63,100 to the University of Michigan Transplant Center for their Emergency Fund and patients since 2009.

In conclusion, since Second Chance at Life began in June of 2008, we've given over $66,500 to Transplant Hospital Emergency Funds and $68,000 to transplant patients to assist with their debts. Second Chance at Life - making a positive difference in Michigan, one patient at a time.